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Palm Aero Space Academy Board OKs shift to on-site meal prep, seeks grants for freezer
Summary
The board approved a transition from prepackaged vendor meals to an on-site prepared meal model intended to increase student participation, improve meal quality, and move the child nutrition program toward self‑sufficiency; the plan depends on equipment purchases (notably a walk‑in freezer), possible rental arrangements and state/federal grants.
Palm Aero Space Academy on Tuesday approved a move from a prepackaged, vendor‑delivered meal model to an on‑site meal‑preparation model intended to improve menu variety and increase student participation. The board voted to recommend the new food‑service model and directed staff to pursue equipment options and grants to support implementation.
The change addresses a longstanding funding shortfall in the academy’s child nutrition program. Roseanne Zerazu, chief business official, told the board the current vendor model limits menu variety and leaves the district unable to capture federal and state reimbursements directly. Zerazu said those shortfalls have made the general fund subsidize the food program and that the district is “overstaffed based on the current model” when measured by meals‑per‑labor‑hour (MPLH) benchmarks.
“By preparing more food on‑site, we’ll have greater flexibility to adjust menus and respond directly to student preferences,” Becky Zapata, assistant…
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